Machine for applying surface decorations to bottles and jars



Feb. 8, 1949. A. s. JACKSON rrm. 2,461,281

MACHINE FOR APPLYING SURFACE DECORATIONS T0 BOTTLES AND JARS Filed July 5, 1946 s Sheets-Sheet 1 21m y a? :1 v Ki l/1W 11.5. zbzcxsajv aAJIEYNE 1949- A. s. JACKSON ETAL 2,461,281

MACHINE FOR APPLYING SURFACE DECORATIONS I To BOTTLES AND JARS Filed July 5, 1946 SSheets-Sheet 2 IIIIIIIIIIII/ VI/lI/IIIIIII Feb. 8, 1949. A, s. JACKSON'ETAL MACHINE FOR APPLYING SURFACE DECORATIONS TO BOTTLES AND JARS 8 sheets sheet 3 Filed July 5, 1946 zie IJLQA.

3mm 13.5. U cxaan! 2 7 1 b a W 2 w u. u w O M a 2 Q J A. S. JACKSON El AL MACHINE FOR APPLYING SURFACE DECORATIONS I Feb. 8, 1949.

TO BOTTLES AND JARS Filed July 5, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 J m may n A6 I .u v 0 t a '4 I a I 7; u 1 u n 2 u. 7 u n c m n 0 -ii Ill. m Ix r'. Ill 1 1| M m n 24 u u a r I 5. a m m 3 S i a; m WL u n 1 9 2 u a 2 u A. S. JACKSON ET AL MACHINE FOR APPLYING SURFACE DECORATIONS Feb. 8, 1949.

' T0 BOTTLES AND JARS Filed July 5, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 W X 1 QJH an An n v I m|ih lm I U H a I--- 0 9 2 2 7 6 B 1 0 1 J 6 8 M6 J J l I i I I N 1 4 a 4 z m m w a 7.9 1 II fl 11 J 4 a all nm\ l 1v 8 245967 0 0 2 .0 J 4 m, m a Q 28 n 9 1. m 9 0 a 1 A w 1 2 Feb. 8, 1949. A. s. JACKSON ETAL MACHINE FOR APPLYING SURFACE DECORATIONS TO BOTTLES AND JARS 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed July 5, 1946 4 3 Q a I 7 6 3 A 3 u a 6 M o 4 1. 3 QWTZ w 9 a 4 1 a @y #6 3. 1 1 1 V. w n 96 n 3 j wfifiw :9 92 l z .9 m w M g ,1 em 1 9 M n 3 0 1 m, 9 a 7 A) F 9 n e A 5. IJQCKJON L.H.HEYNE Feb. 8. 1949. A. s. JACKSON ETAL 2,461,281 I MACHINE FOR APPLYING SURFACE DECORATIONS I TO BOTTLES AND JARS Filed July 6, 1946 s Sheets-Shet 7 CILHEYNE Feb. 8, 1949. A. s. JACKSON ETAL MACHINE FOR APPLYING SURFACE DECORATIONS TO BOTTLES AND JARS 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed July 5, 1946- Patented Feb, 8, 1949 MACHINE FOR APPLYING SURFACE DECO- RATIONS 1'0 BOTTLES AND JARS Albert s. Jackson, Wood River, and Clarence A. Home, Alton, 111., assignors to Owens-Illinois Glass Company, a corporation of Ohio Y Application July 5, 1946, Serial No. 681,618

1 Our invention relates to machines for applying surface decorations to various articles in- '15 Claims. (01. 101-123) cluding bottles, Jars and the like. The invention is adapted to machines for applying color. designs, lettering and other surface decorations by a screen process.

An object of our invention is to provide an efficient and practical machine for high speed production, which operates automatically to apply surface decorations simultaneously to difierent sides of the articles being decorated as, for example, the four sides, or a less number of sides, of a square bottle, or the opposite sides of a panel or fiat bottle. Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Fig.. .1 is a top plan view of the machine with parts shown in section;

Fig. 2 is-a sectional plan atthe line 2-2 on Fig. 3 and with parts broken away, showing indexing mechanism for rotating the work-holding carriage or table step-by-step;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation at the line 3-3 I on Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan at the line l-Jon Fig. 3, showing gearing for rotating the workholders about their axes for presenting the dif- Fig. 12 is a section at the line 11; and

Fig. 131s a piping diagram including the various air-operated piston motors for operating the different parts of the machine, and the valves controlling such operations.

The machine in the form illustrated is designed and equipped for simultaneously decorating the four sides of square bottles and is so described, but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this particular form of workpiece or article to be decorated, nor to the number of surfaces to which the decorations may be simull2-l2 on Fig.

taneously applied.

ferent sides of the workpieces to. the decorating units;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view at the line 5-5 on Fig. 4, showing the driving pin for the work carriage and a pilot valve operated thereby;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevation view of a portion of the machine, showing one of the decorating units, parts being broken away and parts shown in section;

Fig. 6A is a. fragmentary part-sectional elevation, on a comparatively large scale, of parts shown in Fig. 7, particularly the squeegee arm and adjuncts;

Fig. '7 is a sectional elevation at the line 1-7 on Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view showing one of the decorating units, with parts broken awa and parts in section; g

Fig. 9 is a part-sectional view on a-somewhat larger scale, substantially at the line 8-3 on ig.8;

Fig, 10 is a sectional view on a comparatively large scale of one of the valves shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary part-sectional plan view showing workpiece holding and centering devices, and safety mechanism for maintaining a decorating unit inoperative when there is no workpiece between the work-holding chucks;

The machine as shown, in general, comprises a machine base ID, a stationary center column l6 rising therefrom, a work-holding table or carriage ll including a hub extension ll (Fig. 3), mounted for rotation about the column l6, workholding units l8. (five being herein shown), mounted for rotation with the carriage ll, each said unit including a bottom chuck 19 for supporting a workpiece or bottle B and rotating it about its axis, and a neck chuck 20 movable vertically into and out of position for holding the bottle. The carriage I1 is rotated intermittently, step-by-step, by a piston motorC (Fig. 2) which operates carriage indexing mechanism as hereinafter described, to move each bottle or workpiece from a station I, at which it is placed on the machine by the operator, to decorating stations 2, 3, 4 and 5 at which are located decorating units 22 having a stationary mounting on the machine base. Each decorating unit comprises a screen 23 (Fig. 7) in a screen frame 24 supported on a screen'carrier 25'which is mounted for movement radially of the work table for moving the screen to and from decorating position, a squeegee 26 movable up and down by a piston motor 0 attached to the carrier 25, anda piston motor C for moving the carrier 25, all as more fully set forth hereinafter.

A more detailed description of the invention is as follows:

The motor C (Figs. 2 and 3) for indexing the carriage ll, includes a piston 21 and a piston rod 28 connected to a slide block 29 slidable in guideways 30 on the machine base. A link 31 connects the slide block to a rock arm 32 which is Journalled on the column I6. Means for effecting a driving connection between the rock 3 vided with sockets 34 or openings (Figs. 3, 11) spaced at intervals corresponding to the step rotations of the carriage. Coil springs 33 (Figs. 2 .and 5) are connected to the driving pin and apply an upward tension thereon for projecting same time to lock the carriage 11 in its indexed position by means of a locking pin 38 which is attached by a strap 39 to the piston rod for movement up and down with the rod, out of and into the sockets 34. The operation of the motor C is controlled by a lock valve V as hereinafter described. When the driving pin 33 has been lifted to enter a socket 34 as shown in Fig. 3, the indexing motor C operates to rotate the carriage the angular distance between the stations, namely, 72, thereby bringing the driving pin 33 and socket 34 into register with the locking pin 38. The motor C then operates to lower the piston rod 35, therebylocking the carriage and withdrawing the driving pin 33, permitting the return stroke of the motor piston 21 while the carriage is locked.

Attached to the slide block 29 (Fig. 2) is an arm 40 provided at its outer end with an opening through which a rod 4| extends. The ends of the rod are slidably mounted in stationary bearings 42. The lengthwise movement of the rod is limited by collars 43 fixed to the rod. The function of the rod is to operate pilot valves V and V (see Fig. 13). A valve operating rocker 44, mounted to rock on a pivot pin 45, has a slot and pin connection 46 with the rod 4!. When the motor piston 21 moves forward for indexing the carriage, the arm 4!! slides along the rod 4! and during the final movement of the piston, engages the collar 43 and thereby moves the rod 4i to the right, against theforce of a coil spring 41 housed in the bearing 42, thus swinging the rocker 44 (Fig. 13) and operating the valve V When the piston 21 commences its return movement the,

arm 46 is withdrawn from the collar 43 permitting rod 4| to be moved to a central position by the spring 41, thus releasing the valve V As the piston 21 completes its return movement, the arm 40 engages the other collar 43 and moves the rod 41 to the left, thereby causing the rocker 44 to actuate the pilot valve V*.

The piston rod 35 (Figs. 3 and 13) has attached thereto an arm 48 carrying a contact rod 49 between and in line with the valve stems of upper and lower pilot valves V and V which have a stationary mounting. When the motor C operates to lift the piston rod 35 and the locking pin 38 to permit indexing of the carriage, the valve V is opened by the contact pin 49. When the piston rod 35 is lowered at the completion of theindexing movement, to lock the carriage and release the driving arm, the valve V is closed and the valve V opened by the contact pin 49.

Referring to Fig. 5, a pilot valve V is arranged to be opened by the driving pin 33 when the latter is moved upward by the springs 33 into driving position. Operating connections between the valve and driving pin include a rocker 50 pivoted at 59 said rocker having onc' arm projecting over a lug 50 on the driving pin and an arm extending into position to engage the valve stem. The work-holding units, as before noted, each comprises a lower chuck l9 and an upper chuck 25. The chuck l9 has attached thereto a depending stem 50 (Figs. 3 and 7) which is journalled for rotation in bearings 51 in the carriage l1. Attached to the lower end of the stem 50 is a spur gear 52. A stationary segmental gear 53 is attached by screws 54 (Fig. 4) to a cam plate 55 having a fixed mounting on the column IS. The gears 52 on chuck spindles intermesh with the gear teeth on the stationary gear 53 so that the rotation of the carriage lT causes the gears 52 to rotate the chucks I9 about their axes.

\Vhile the gears 52 are out of mesh with the gear 53, their rotative position is controlled by cam tracks 55 and 57 formed on the cam plate 55. Eachgear 52 has mounted on its lower side, cam follower rolls 58- and 59 adapted to run respectively in the tracks 56 and 51. The carriage l'l rotates in a clockwise direction, so that the gears 52 travel clockwise around the center column and also are rotated clockwise about their own axes. The gears 52 and 53 are so proportioned that each gear 52, while in mesh with the gear 53, is rotated about its own axis during one step rotation of the carriage, so that the four faces of a square bottle are presented to the four decorating units in succession at the stations 2, 3, 4 and 5. As a gear 52 moves forward between stations 4 and 5, the cam follower roll 59 enters the cam track 51, which is shaped to correspond with the path of movement which the roll 59 must follow while the gear 52 is still in mesh with the stationary gear 53. By the time the gear 52 reaches station 5, it is unmeshed from the stationary gear and the other cam roll 58 is at the entrance of the stationary cam track 56. The cam track 5! serves to steady the gear 52 preventing vibration or displacement as the gears unmesh and control of the rotative position of gear 52 is transferred to cam track 55.

From this point on, the rotative position of the gear 52 in respect to its axis is controlled by the cam track 56 until station I is reached at which the workpiece is removed from the chucks. The track 56 is concentric with the axis of the carriage through the greater portion of its length, thus holding the gear against rotation about its axis during its travel from station 5 to station I. When the gear 52 advances from station I, an outwardly directed portion 56 of cam track 56 starts rotation of the gear about its axis and controls its rotation until it meshes with the stationary gear 53 by which it is further rotated so that when it reaches the decorating station 2, it is again in position for holding a workpiece in register with the decorating unit. That is to say, the total rotative movement of the gear 52 and chuck carried thereby during the travel from station 5 around to station 2 is through 90".

The upper chucks 26, referred to herein as the neck chucks, are mounted each to rotate freely about its axis in an arm 6| secured to and extending radially outward from a chuck holder 62 mounted for up-and-down movement on the hub portion l'l of the carriage. The chuck is removably held in position by a spring pressed pin 63 which engages an annular recess in the chuck spindle. The carriage hub I1 is formed with vertical ribs 64 (Figs. 1 and 11) which together with removable keeper plates or strips 65 and 66 secured thereto, provide guideways for the chuck holder 62. An arm 61 attached to and extending outwardly from a rib 69 on the strip 99, is formed at its outer end with divergent guiding fingers68 for engaging the neck portion of a bottle B as the latter is placed by the operator on the bottom chuck, and serves to center and support the bottle while the neck chuck is being moved downward to holding position. The arm 61 is adjustable up and down on the strip 66.

The neck chuck 20 is yleldingly held in its lowered position by a coil spring II housed within the chuck holder 62 and held under compression between a. plug I2 threaded in the holder 62 and a stop I4 on the hub I1. The spring 1| is under compression. The neck chuck 20 is automatically raised by the piston motor .0 The motor piston 15 is moved upwardly by air pressure supplied as hereinafter described and is lowered by a coil spring 16 mounted in the motor cylinder. A piston rod 'II extending downwardly from the piston carries a collar 18 formed with a projection to engage beneath a shoulder I9 on the chuck holder 62, thereby providing a connection by which the chuck holder is lifted with the motor piston. This connection provides lost motion between the piston and the chuck holder so that the chuck is placed under the compressive force of the coil spring II, the connection also permitting the chuck to be lifted free of the bottle, independently of the motor.

A pilot valve V positioned behind the motor and mounted on the motor cylinder is opened by means of a rock arm 8 I pivoted at 82 on the head of the motor and having its free end projecting over the stem of the valve. With the parts in the position shown in Fig. 3, in which 'the motor piston I is in its lowered position. the rock arm 8 I is held down by a pawl or latch 83 pivotally connected to theupper end of the piston rod 11. The latch is tripped by a piston motor 0 referred to as the trip motor, comprising a piston 84 and piston rod 85. When air pressure is applied beward when air pressure is applied the piston. The screen carrier is returned or with drawn from the workpiece by a pair of coil springs I02 (Fig. 8) mounted in the member 90 and held under compression therein. Each spring bears against a slide block I03 to which is -attached a pin I 04 extending upward through a slot in the member 90 into an opening in the member 96.

The squeegee motor C comprises a cylinder I04 attached to the plate 95 and includes a piston and piston rod I05. the latter extending through an opening in the plate 95 and having attached thereto a slideblock I06 or head, mounted for up-and-down movement in the frame 94. The latter is substantially square in cross section and hollow or tubular in form as shown in Fig. 1 at the station 2. It is formed at its forward side with a vertical slot I01 and includes a removable plate I08 formed with a vertical slot I09.

An. arm III which carries the squeegee extends through the front slot I01 and is attached by pins I I2 to the slide block I08 which is forked to receive said arm. The arm I II is extended downwardly at its forward end and carries a pivot pin I I3 on which the squeegee is hung for swinging movement,

' squeegee 26 is removably held in. a holder f I4 hind the piston, it operates the latch 33 and releases the rock arm 8I permitting the valve V to open. The piston 84 is returned by a coil spring 86. The manner in which the valve V and the motor C control various operations of the machine will be described hereinafter.

A decorating unit will now be described. Referring to Figs. 6 to 9, the decorating unit comprises a stationary base member 90 which forms a slideway on which the screen carrier 25 is mounted for sliding movement to and from the decorating position. The base member 90 is mounted for vertical adjustment on a pair of posts 9I by means of adjusting screws 92. The

member 90 is formed with slit bearing sleeves 93 which are clamped to the posts for holding said member in adjusted position. A group of parts mounted for sliding movement with the screen carrier radially of the machine to and from a decorating position, includesthe squeegee cylinder C the squeegee 26, the screen frame 24 and screen 23, and a frame 94 above and extending vertically in alignment with the motor cylinder and forming a guideway for parts connected to the motor piston, as presently described. The frame 94 is attached to or'formed integral with a plate 95 which rests on a casting 96 and is attached thereto by bolts 91 '(Fig. 6). The parts 95 and 96 are slidably mounted on the base member 90. The screen motor C includes a piston 98 which reciprocates in the cylinder 99', the latter being formed integral with the base member 90. A rod IOI attached to the piston 98, bears against the member 96 and moves the screen carrier forhaving a stem I I5 extending into a rock arm I|9 connected to the pivot pin H3. The squeegee is swung inwardly into engagement with the screen 23 by means of a coil spring I" mounted on a rod I I8 attached to the arm I I I. The spring is held under compression between a head II9 on the rod and a yoke I2I (Figs. 6 and 8) slidable on the rod and having arms extending downward and carrying a. pivot pin I22 by which the yoke is connected to the squeegee arm.

The screen 23 is of conventional construction and is provided with any desired decorating design or pattern. The squeegee 26 bears against the screen during both the up and down movement for applying the design to the workpiece. A supply of the decorating material is maintained in a pan I23 at the lower end of thescreen frame. While the squeegee is traveling up and down. it is held against the screen with a yielding pressure supplied by the compression spring I". Means for swinging the arm IIB downward and thereby withdrawing the squeegee from the screen, includes a rock arm I24 attached by a pivot pin I25-to the slide block I06. The arm I24 has a slot and pin connection I21 with the squeegee arm II6. As the slide block I 06 carries the squeegee downward and approaches the limit of its downward movement, the arm I24 strikes a stop bolt I28 adjustably mounted in the plate 95, so that the arm I24 is swung upwardly and swings the squeegee away from the screen. During the up-stroke of the squeegee, as it nears the limit of its movement, a lug I29 on the arm I 24 the squeegee away from the screen. The stop I 3| is carried on a block I32 adjustably slidable up and down in the frame 94 and clamped in adjusted position by a bolt I33. 7

Means for'locking the squeegee arm in a retracted position out of contact with the screen, comprises a latch I34 pivoted on the arm III. When it is desired to lockthe squeegee in its retracted position, the operator swings the arm 6 downwardly and rearwardly about the pivot II3, thereby raising the yoke I2I a sufllcient distance to permit the latch'I34 to engage beneath the yoke, thereby locking the squeegee in its retracted as presently described. The

'- position. A spring pressed detent I35 moves the latch to locking position.

Safety devices, individual to the decorating units are provided for preventing operation. of a screen cylinder C2 when there is no bottle or workpiece in the chucks and thereby preventing the screen from being moved forward. One such safety device is illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12. It includes a screen safety valve V which is operated by a rock arm I36 mounted to swing on a pivot I31 and having its free end in position to bear against the valve stem. The arm is normally held retracted by a coil spring I38, leaving the valve open for normal operation. When a bottle is missing, the chuck holder 62 carrying the neck chuck is moved downward below normal position, thereby operating mechanism by which the valve V is held closed. Such mechanism (Fig. 12) includes a rod I39 mounted for vertical movement in the hub IF. A coil spring I under compression bears upwardly against a collar I42 on the rod, with the latter projecting into the path of the neck chuck holder 62. The rod is pivoted at its lower end to a rock arm I43 fulcrumed on a pin I44. The rock arm is connected through a link I45 to a slide bar I46 mounted to slide radially of the carriage. When the carriage is brought to rest, the slide I46 is in position to engage a roll I41 on the arm I36 and move, it inward into position to close the valve V". This valve controls the screen motor C and, when closed, prevents its operation, as hereinafter described. The roll I41 runs on the periphery of the carriage II while the latter is rotating.

The control valve V which controls the operation of the screen motor C and the valve actuating mechanism are.illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10. The valve V comprises a valve block I58 formed with lower and upper valve chambers II and I52 respectively, communicating with pipes 288 and 2". Upper and lower valve stems I55 and I56 are slidably mounted in screw-threaded plugs I51 in the slide block. Each valve stem carries a valve disk I58 (Fig. which seats on a ring gasket I 59, the disk being normally held in sealing contact with the gasket by a coil spring IBI. The tubular valve stem I 55 includes an inner slidable member I62 with a head I53.

The valve stems are moved inwardly alternatively against the compressive force of the springs I6I by a rocker I64 mounted to-swing about a pivot pin I65 carried in lugs I66 on the valve block. Latches I61 and I68 are connected by pivots I69 to the upper and lower ends of the rocker I64. The latches are formed with hooks to engage keepers I1I on the valve block and are also formed with arms I for releasing the latches. The latches are held in looking position by spring pressed detents I12.

A latch releasing switch I13 is fulcrumed to swing on the pivot pin I65 and is formed with 8 tends horizontally in line with the pivot pin I 65 (Fig. 13).

The operation of the switching mechanism is as follows:

Commencing with the parts in the positions shown in Fig. 9, the motor '22 operates to retract the screen and withdraw the finger I88 from contact with the switch I13, so that the arm I16 is swung to vertical position by the coil spring I18, thereby swinging the finger I88 to a horizontal position (Fig. 13). When the screen frame is again moved forward to operative position by its motor C' the finger I88 rides the upper inclined surface of the V-shaped cam or nose I85 formed on the switch I13, thereby rocking the switch counter-clockwise. During the initial rocking movement of the switch, the lower finger I14 swings the lower latch arm I15 and releases the lower latch I68. As the latch is thus released, the end of the finger I88 engages a surface I88 of the rocker I64, so that the continued movement of said finger with the screen carrier swings the rocker I54 about its fulcrum and causes theupper latch to engage its keeper III. This swinging movement of the rocker moves the upper valve stem I inward and at the same time releases the lower valve stem I58, permitting the spring I6I to move the valve to closed position. The switch I13 is held in either position to which it is thrown, by the spring pressed ball I88 engaging notches I89 in the switch.

Operation Referring to Fig. 13,-air under pressure is supplied through a main pipe line 288, for operating the machine. Assuming the parts to be in the positions shown in Fig, 13 and a decorated bottle held in the chucks at station I, a cycle of operations is initiated by the operator depressing a foot pedal 2M. This opens a pilot valve V and supplies air from the main air pipe 288 through pipes 282, .282, valve V pipe 283, valve V and pipe 284 to the motor C (Fig. 3), thereby raising the motor piston and causing it to raise the neck chuck 28, thus releasing the decorated bottle B. The operator then removes the bottle and places a bare bottle in position between the chucks, and then releases the pressure on the foot pedal 28I. This closes the valve V and cuts off the air supply to the chuck lifting motor C so that the piston is lowered by the spring 16, thereby releasing the neck chuck 28 so that it is lowered by the spring H and holds the bottle. As the piston moves down, the pawl 83 attached to the piston rod forces the rock arm 8I downward, causing it to open the valve V This supplies air pressure from the main 288 through pipe 282, valve V pipe 285, through the open pilot valve V and fingers I14 to engage the latch arms I15. The

switch I13 is free to rock about its pivot independently of the rocker I64. Means for actuating the rocker I64 includes a rock arm I16 pivotally mounted to rock on a pivot pin I 18 on a bracket I11 connected to the screen carrier for horizontal movement therewith. The arm I16 is normally held in a vertical depending position by means of a coil spring I19 mounted on a stem I8I slidable lengthwise within the hollow arm I16 and having a head I82. The pin I18 has a fiat surface I83 against which the head I82 is held by the spring. The arm I16 is formed with a finger I88, which, when the screen carrier is retracted, ex-

pipe 288 to the valve V It will be noted that the valve V (Fig. 5) has been opened by the upward movement of the driving pin 33. The air pressure supplied to the valve V as just described, shifts the valve and supplies air pressure beneath the piston of the motor C (Fig. 3) and thereby actuates the motor and causes it to raise the locking pin 38 out of engagement with the carriage I1. This upward movement of the motor piston'also causes the contact rod 48 connected to the piston rod to open the valve V. This supplies air pressure from the pipe 285 through a pipe 281, valve V pipe 289, to the control valve V of the carriage driving motor C. The valve is thus shifted .to supply air behind the motor piston 21 (Fig. 2), causing it to index the carriage, thereby carrying the bottle 13 from station I to decorating position at station 2. The

motor 0 also operates through the rod El to open the valve V as the motor piston is completing its V. This causes the motor C to lower its piston,

thereby lowering the locking pin 38 and locking the carriage in its indexed po ition, and withdrawing the driving pin 33. The shifting of the valve V also cuts off the air supply through the pipe 203 to the valve V". The operation of the motor (I also lowers the contact rod 49, thereby opening the valve V. This supplies air from the main 200, through pipe 212, valve V and pipe M3 to the driving motor valve V so that the latter is reversed, causing the driving motor C to start its return stroke for returning the carriage indexing arm 32. The opening of the valve V, as above noted, as the motor C is completing the carriage driving stroke, also admits air pressure through the pipe 2L0, 2 to the trip motor C causing it to operate the pawl 83, thus releasing the trip lever 8| and permitting the self-closing valve V to close. The opening of the valve V also admits air through a pipe 2 to the left-hand end of the valve V thereby shifting the latter into position to admit'air through pipes 2I5, the valves V and pipes 2 l6 to the screen motors C of the four decorating units. While the indexing motor piston is making its return stroke, the decorating units any one of the holding units, the neck chuck holder 62 01'- are operated. If a bottle is missing from such unit moves downward below normal position and operates through the mechanism shown in Figs. 11 and 12 to close the corresponding safety valve V", so that the decorating unit at said station remains inoperative. At the stations where bottles are in position, the valves V are open (for normal operation), and air is supplied through the pipes 2 I 5, valves V", and pipes M6 for operating the screen motors 0*, thereby moving the screens to decorating position. During this movement at each station, the finger I80 operates the rocker I64 (Fig. 9), thereby depressing one or the other of the valve stems I55, I56 for opening one or the othertof the valve disks of the valve V This supplies air through either an upper pipe ill or lower pipe -2I8 to the upper or lower end of the cylinder of the motor C thus operating the motor to impart either an up-stroke or a down-stroke to the squeegee 26, thereby decorating the bottle. This completes the cycle. l

Modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of our invention.

We claim:

1. A decorating machine comprising a machine base, a carriage mounted thereon for rotation about a vertical axis, work-holders mounted on the carriage and arranged at uniformly spaced positions around. the axis of the carriage and each comprising means for holding a bottleor other workpiece in upright position, a decorating unit having a sationary mounting at a decorating station adjacent to the path of the workpieces, said decorating unit comprising a carrier mounted for horizontal movement radially of the said carriage, a piston motor comprising a vertical cylinder attached to said carrier and a vertically reciprocating piston rod and piston, a screen frame and screen on said carrier, a squeegee arm and squeegee connected to the motor piston for up-and-down movement therewith, said decorat ing unit comprising a screen motor arranged to drive said carrier and move the screen to decorating position, and control means for effecting l0 movement of said piston motor and thereby operating the squeegee for applying a surface decoration to the workpiece.

2. A decorating machine comprising a machine base, a carriage mounted thereon for rotation about a vertical axis, decorating units mounted on the machine base at decorating stations spaced at intervals around the carriage. each said unit comprising a vertically disposed screen, a workholder mounted on the carriage for rotation therewith and comprising a work-holding chuck spaced laterally of said axis for supporting in upright position a workpiece having vertically disposed faces on different sides thereof for receiving decorations, means for rotating the carriage intermittently, step-by-step, about its vertical axis and thereby bringing the work-holder and workpiece thereon to said decorating stations in succession, intermeshing gears including a stationary gear mounted concentrically with the axis of the carriage and a' gear connected to the said chuck and operable during said intermittent step rotations of the carriage to rotate the chuck and thereby rotate the workpiece about itsown vertical axis through predetermined angles such that its said vertical faces are presented in succession to the successive screens, and automatic means cooperating with the screens for applying a surface decoration to each of said surfaces in successionat the successive decorating stations.

3, A decorating machine comprising a machine base, acarriage mounted thereon for rotation about a vertical axis, decorating units mounted on the machine base at decorating stations spaced at intervals around the carriage, each said 'unit comprisin a vertically disposed screen,- a workholding chuck mounted on the carriage for rotation therewith and for rotation about its own axis and comprising means for supporting in upright position a workpiece having vertically disposed faces for receiving decorations, means for rotating the carriage intermittently, step-by-step, and thereby bringing the work-holder and workpiece thereon to said decorating stations in succession,

a stationary gear concentric with the axis 0! the carriage, a second gear in mesh therewith and connected to the chuck for rotating the chuck and workpiece intermittently about the said axis of the chuck in synchronism with the said intermittent rotative movements of the carriage and thereby presenting the surfaces of the workpiece in. succession'to the decorating screens.

.4. A decorating machine comprising a carriage I mounted for rotation about a vertical axis, stationary decorating units positioned at intervals around the carriage, means for rotating the carriage intermittently, step-by-step, about said axis, a work-holder on the carriage spaced laterally from said. axis and comprising a lower chuck and an upper chuck in vertical alignment for holding a workpiece in upright position therebetween, said chucks being pivoted for rotative movement about their own vertical axis, intermeshing gears including a stationary gear concentric with the axis of the carriage and a gear concentric with the axis of the chucks and con-- nected for rotation therewith, whereby the rotation of the carriage causes rotation of the chucks and the workpiece held thereby through apredetermined angle during each said step rotation of the carriage, thereby presenting the surfaces to be decorated to the-several decorating units in succession.

5. A decorating machine comprising a carriage mounted for rotation about a vertical axis, a

ll workpiece holder mounted for rotatlomwith the carriage and for rotation about its own vertical axis, a carriage driving motor, means providing driving connections between the motor andcarriage for rotating the latter intermittently, stepby-step, and thereby bringing the workpiece holder and a workpiece thereon to a plurality of decorating stations in succession, decorating units at said stations, a stationary segmental gear mounted concentrically with the axis of said carriage, a second gear connected to said workpiece holder for rotation therewith about its said axis and intermeshing with said stationary gear during a predetermined portion of the carriage rotation for causing rotation of the workpiece about its axis as the carriage is rotated and thereby presenting the surfaces to be decorated in succession to the decorating units, said second gear being disconnected from the stationary gear during another portion of the rotation of the carriage, and means for rotating said second gear and controlling its rotative position while dis connected from the segmental gear.

6. A decorating machine comprising a carriage mounted for rotation about a vertical axis, workholders mounted for rotation with the carriage and each comprising a lower chuck and an upper chuck spaced above and in vertical alignment with the lowerchuck, the chucks being mounted for rotation about their own vertical axes, a carriage driving motor, means providing driving connections between the carriage and the motor for rotating the carriage intermittently, step-bystep, and thereby bringing each work-holder with and operable to rotate each workpiece during said intermittent rotation of the carriage for presenting the surfaces to be decorated in succession to the decorating units, and cam means for rotating said rotatable gears and controlling their rotative position while out of mesh with said segmental gear.

'7. A decorating machine comprising a machine base, a carriage mounted thereon for rotation about a vertical axis, work-holding units mounted on the carriage and arranged in an annular series at uniformly spaced intervals around the said axis, an indexing motor, driving connections between the motor and the carriage for rotating the carriage intermittently, step-by-step, through angular distances corresponding to the spacing of the said units, each said unit comprising a work-holding chuck, a vertical chuck spindle j ournalled for rotation in the carriage, and a spur gear attached to the spindle for rotation therewith, a stationary segmental spur gear mounted concentric with the axis of the carriage and meshing with the said rotatable gears for rotating the chucks about their axes during .the intermittent rotations of the carriage and thereby bringing the surfaces of each workpiece .to be decorated in succession to decorating positions at the several decorating stations, stationary decorating units at said stations each comprising means for decorating a surface of the workpiece while in said decorating position at the station, each rotary gear being held out of mesh with the stationary gear during a portion of the rotation of the carriage, a stationary cam track, and means carried by each of said rotary gears for engaging the cam track and thereby controlling the rotative position of the gear about its axis while out of mesh with the stationary gear.

8. A decorating machine comprising a machine base, a stationary vertical column rising therefrom, a carriage mounted on said column for hurlzontal rotation, means for rotating the carriage, a work-holder on the carriage comprising a lower chuck forming a bottom support for a workpiece thereon, an upper chuck in vertical alignment with the lower chuck, a chuck holder carrying said upper chuck, vertical guideways on the carriage in which said holder is mounted for upand-down movement, a spring positioned and arranged to lower the chuck holder and hold the chuck against the workpiece, a piston motor comprising a vertical cylinder and a piston and piston rod, means providing a lost motion connection between the piston rod and the chuck holder by which the chuck while in lowered position is free from the control of the piston rod, control means for causing operation of said piston motor and thereby lifting said chuck holder and upper chuck, decorating mechanism having a stationary mounting adjacent to the path of the workholder, and means for actuating the decorating mechanism.

9. A decorating machine comprising a machine base, a stationary vertical column rising therefrom, a carriage mounted for rotation aboutthe axis of said column, workpiece holding units on the carriage at uniformlyspaced intervals around said axis, each said unit comprising a bottom chuck for supporting a workpiece in upright position and an upperchuck for engaging the upper. end of the workpiece, chuck holders carrying said upper chucks, said carriage having vertical guideways in which said holders are mounted for upand-down sliding movement for lifting and lowering the upper chucks, means for rotating the carriage step-by-step and thereby bringing each said unit to a'plurality of decorating stations in succession, decorating units at said stations comprising means for applying decorations to the surfaces of the workpieces, a piston motor comprising a vertical cylinder having a stationary mounting on said column above the said chuck holders, said motor comprising a vertically reciprocating piston and piston rod, means providing an operating connection between the piston rod and each chuck holder while the latter is at one of said stations, automatic means for operating said piston motor while the carriage is at rest after each step rotation and thereby lifting said chuck holders in succession, and spring means positioned and arranged to move said upper chucks into engagement with the workpieces and hold them against the workpieces with spring pressure independently of the said piston motor.

10. A decorating machine comprising a machine base, a stationary vertical column rising therefrom, a carriage mounted for rotation about the axis of said column, workpiece holding units on the carriage at uniformly spaced intervals around said axis, each said unit comprising a bottom chuck for supporting a workpiece in upright position and an upper chuck for engaging the upper end of the workpiece, chuck holders carrying said upper chucks, said carriage having vertical guideways in which said holders are mounted for up-and-down sliding movement for lifting and lowering the upper chucks, means for rotating the carriage step-by-step and thereby bringing each said unit to a plurality of decorating stations in succession, decorating units at said stations comprising means for applying decorations to the surfaces of the workpieces, a piston motor comprising a vertical cylinder having a stationary mounting on said column above the said chuck holders, said motor comprising a vertically reciprocating piston and piston rod, means providing an operating connection between the piston rod and each chuck holder while the latter is at one of said'stations, automatic means for operating said piston motor while the carriage is at rest after each step rotation and thereby lifting said chuck holders in succession, spring means positioned and arranged to move said upper. chucks into engagement with the workpieces and hold them against the worpieces with spring pressureindependently of the said piston motor, and automatic means for rotating the chucks about their vertical axes through predetermined angles during the step rotations of the carriage and thereby presenting different surfaces of a workpiece in succession to the decorating units.

11. Decorating apparatus comprising a screen frame and screen, a carrier on which the screen frame is mounted with the screen in vertical position, a piston motor comprising a vertical cylinder attached to said carrier and a vertically reciprocating piston and piston rod, a slide block connected to the piston rod for up-and-down movement therewith, a squeegee arm pivotally mounted onthe slide block, a squeegee on said arm, spring means for swinging said arm on its pivot and thereby moving the squeegee into operative position in contact with the screen, a rock arm pivoted on said slide block and having operative connection with the squeegee arm for swinging the latter when the arm is rocked on its pivot,

' stops in position to engage and rock the rock arm and thereby swing the squeegee free from the screen at the upper and lower limits of its vertical movement, a latch, and means operated by the squeegee arm when swung beyond its normal position to actuate the latch and cause it to hold the squeegee in an inoperative position.

12. Decorating apparatus comprising a workpiece holder for holdin an article to be decorated, means for supporting said holder in a predetermined position, a decorating unit comprising a screen carrier mounted for movement toward and from the workpiece holder, a screen frame and screen on the carrier, means for moving the carrier toward and from the said holder and thereby moving the screen into and out of a decorating position, a squeegee mounted on the carrier and movable therewith, a squeegee operating motor carried on said carrier, said motor comprising a piston and piston rod reciprocable in a direction parallel with the screen, means for holding the squeegee against the screen during said movement of the piston in both directions, and automatic means actuated by the said movement of the carrier to reverse the piston motor during each complete reciprocating movement of the carrier toward and from the screen, whereby the squeegee is given an operating movement along the screen once during each complete reciprocation of the carrier.

13. Decorating apparatus comprising a workpiece holder for holding an article to be decorated. means for supporting said holder in a predetermined position, a decorating unit comprising a screen carrier mounted for movement toward and from the workpiece holder, a screen frame and screen on the carrier, means for moving the carrier toward and from the said holder and thereby moving the screen into and out of a decorating position, a squeegee mounted on the carrier and movable therewith, a squeegee operating motor carried on said carrier, said motor comprising a piston and piston rod reciprocable in a direction parallel with the screen, means for holding the squeegee against the screen during said movement of the piston in both directions, a motor control valve controlling the reciprocation of the motor piston, and means operated by the said movement of the carrier for actuating said valve and therebyreversing the motor once during each said movement of the carrier toward and from decorating position.

14. A workpiece holder for holding an article to be decorated, means for supporting said holder with the article in a position to be decorated, a screen frame, a flat screen thereon, a screen carrier on which the screen frame is mounted, said carrier being mounted for movement toward and from said holder for moving the screen to and from a decorating position, a piston motor comprising a cylinder attached to said carrier and a piston and piston rod reciprocable in a direction parallel with the screen, a motor control valve controlling the direction of movement of the motor piston, means for moving the carrier toward and from the work-holder and thereby moving the screen to and from the decorating position, a switch device for actuating the motor control valve, and means operable by the movement of the carrier toward the screen to actuate said switch device and thereby reverse the motor.

15. A decorating machine comprising, in combination, a carriage mounted for horizontal rotation, a work-holder on the carriage comprising a bottom chuck and an upper chuck mounted for vertical reciprocation toward and from the bottom chuck for holding and releasing a workpiece, means for intermittently rotating the carriage and thereby bringing th work-holder to a decorating station and holding it stationary during a decorating operation, a decorating unit having a fixed mounting atsaid station and comprising means for applying a surface'decoration to an article or workpiece in said holder, said decorating unit including a fluid-operated piston motor, a decorating screen, means operatively connecting the motor piston to the screen, and means for actuating the motor and moving the screen to a decorating position, a normally open valve controlling the supply of operating fluid to the motor, and valve actuating mechanism between said upper chuck and said valve operative to close the valve when the chuck is moved downward below its normal holding position and thereby prevent the operation of said motor.

ALBERT S. JACKSON. CLARENCE A. HEYNE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are 01' record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTS Number Name Date 1,904,332 Sidebotham Apr. 18, 1933 2,142,158 Sloan. Jan. 3, 1939 2,229,346 Shurley Jan. 21, 1941 2,231,553 Soubier Feb. 11, 1941 2,307,404 Heyne Jan. 5, 19-13 2,383,947 Wensel Sept. 4, 1945' 

